Agriculture

Once harvest wraps up for another year, producers often spend some time reflecting on what went well, and what could have gone better over the past growing season.

There is an old adage about history often repeating itself, and that might just be the case when it comes to farm shelterbelts. As long as there have been farms, farmers have always had a sort of love-hate relationship with trees.

To the surprise of many in the face of the rhetoric of American president Donald Trump, a new North American trade deal has been hammered out. The reaction has been generally positive, at least in this country among farm organizations.

It was a day for working horses, and the people that love them, as a Chore Team Challenge was held at Tail Winds Arena.

If you are a regular reader of this space, and thanks to those who are, then you know I am a believer in maintaining older genetics, whether they are within a heritage breed of livestock, or in the plants from which our current crops evolved.

A wet and cool week stalled most harvest operations in the province. Sixty-two per cent of the crop is now in the bin, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report. The five-year (2013-2017) average is 53 per cent for this time of year.

Last week I filled this space with thoughts on how over the centuries, farmers and pet hobbyists have modified a number of species through selective breeding.

Snow, which started falling Sept. 21 and continued Sept. 22, left swathes in the Canora area covered. The snow melted, but it will take some good weather before farmers can combine the crops.

Yorkton and area students were given a hands-on look at where their food comes from with a fall visit to the local ‘Pizza Farm’ last week.

Recently I was doing some net surfing to pass the time, and ended up visiting a number of sites related to the hobby of keeping pigeons.